Punch



l. B. KNUTSON Oct. 1935.

PUNCH Filed Oct. 4, .1952- 3 Sheets-Sheet l f \INE' an I v ATTORNEY l. B. KNUTSQN PUNCH.

Filed Oct. 4, 19

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I TORNEY I. B. KNUTSON Oct. 8, 1 935.

PUNCH Filed Oct. 4, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO 22 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1935 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUNCH Irving Knutson,

Chicago, Ill., assignor,

poration of New York Application October 4, 1932, Serial No. 636,129

10 Claims.

This invention relates to punching or perforating machines and more particularly to machines of the type in which the punching may be controlled either manually or by a previously punched card.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified machine of the type specified.

Heretofore in machines of this character, socalled column cut-out bars have been provided with notches along one edge thereof located in accordance with the columns of the controlling record which it is desired to reproduce. A socalled skip bar has also been customarily provided with notches along one edge thereof arranged in accordance with the columns of the blank card which it is desired to skip. These column cutout bars and skip bars have a permanent configuration which is in accordance with the arrangement of data on the associated record cards and it has been necessary to provide a set of such bars for each different arrangement of data on the cards which may be used in the machine.

- The main object of the present invention is to obviate the necessity for these mechanical bars and to provide a flexible electrically controlled device which may be pre-set to cause duplicating or spacing operations to occur automatically in any desired columns of the record cards.

A flexible plugging arrangement is provided whereby the duplicating and spacing positions in the machine may be readily altered to conform to any desired arrangement of data on the record cards.

A modification of the invention provides for a plurality of switches of which there is one provided for each column of the record card. A switch associated with any column of the card, when in one position may cause data to be duplicated or punched in that column; when in a second position, may cause the column to be automatically skipped; and when in a third position, may permit the manual punching of data in that column.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a circuit diagram of the electric circuits of the punch including the card carrying mechanism in perspective outline.

Fig. 2 is a section of the essential operating mechanism of the punch.

Fig. 3is a detail of the punch carriage escapement mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a punch magnet operating contact mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the analyzing mech-- anism for analyzing the master or pattern card. Fig. 6 is a detail of a modified form' of switch controlled contact device. 6

The punching machine is generally of the form shown in the Lee and Phillips Patent No. 1,772,186, granted August 5, 1930 and the description thereof will be limited to the features essential to an understanding of the present invention.

In Fig. 2, punch selecting magnets I 0 are provided, there being one for eachindex point position of the record card. Energization of magnet ill will attract its armature to rock an arm II in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot l2, thus moving key l3 downwardly to rock a bell crank I4 which has connection with an interposer l5 which is suitably mounted for horizontal reciprocation. The forward end of interposer I5 is suitably guided between an operating bar l6 and the upper end of a punch l1.

Forward movement of the interposer will position its widest portion between bar I6 and punch I1 so that subsequent counterclockwise rocking of bar i6 about pivot l8 will move the interposer and punch downwardly to perforate the record card IS. A notch 2|] in the interposer cooperates with a bail 2| to rock the same in a counterclockwise direction when the interposer is moved toward the leftl Rocking of bail 2| in such manner will draw a hook-shaped member 22 (see Fig. 4) toward the left to close a pair of contacts 23. As will be explained in connection with the circuit diagram, contacts 23 complete a circuit through the punch magnet 24 causing it to attract its armature 25 and through linkage, generally designated 26, draw downwardly on the bar l6 to cause depression of the selected punch. 46 Depression of key I 3 may, of course, be effected independently of the. operation of the magnet in for the purpose of manually controlling punching operations.

Disposed beneath the interposers I 5 is a ball 60 21 which is carried by rod 28 upon one end 01' which is secured an arm 29 (see Fig. 3) for opcrating the escapement mechanism. The escapement mechanism comprises a holding pawl 30 pivoted at 3! to the frame of the machine and a stepping pawl 32 loosely pivoted on rod 28 and normally urged by a spring 33 into en gagement with the teeth 34 on the upper edge of the carriage rack 35. Rocking of rod-28 in a counter clockwise direction under action of rocking bar IS on an interposer |5 will lower pawl 38 into engagement with a tooth 34 to hold the rack 35 in position while punching is being effected. This action at the same time raises pawl 32 out of engagement with teeth 34 and by virtue of its loose connection with rod 28 it will move slightly toward the right in readiness to intercept the next tooth 34 when the rod 28 is returned to its original position.

A pair of contacts 35 is provided which is so associated with the pawl 32 that the contacts are open when the pawl is in its raised position and closed when it is in engagement with a notch .or tooth 34.

A bell crank 31 pivoted at 38 to the frame of the machine carries a pin 39 underlying pawl 32. Energization of a magnet 45 will rock the bell crank in a clockwise direction whereby pin 39 will raise pawl 32 out of notch 34 to release the bar 35 from control of the escapement mechanism, thus permitting it to move rapidly toward the left with a continuous motion.

Referring to Fig. 1, the rack 35 is suitably mounted for horizontal movement in the frame of the machine and may be manually moved toward the right to the position shown wherein a record card I9 is placed in position with the first column thereof in line with the punches |1. Gear teeth out on the underside of the rack cooperate with suitable gearing 4| which is connected to the usual spring barrel 42 which tends to move the rack toward the left and which effects such movement under control of the escapement mechanism just described.

Rack 35 is provided with extensions 43 and 44 between which a pattern or master card 45 is positioned and which is adapted to be moved back and forth with the rack. An arm 45 carried by the rack 35 is provided for cooperation with the card I9 to move it column by column past the punches l1. Positioned above the pattern card 45 is a contact roller 41 (see also Fig. 5)

which is insulated from the frame of the machine. Directly below the roller 41 is a row of brushes 48 carried by a bar 49 which is normally in the position shown in Fig. 5 holding the brushes down out of engagement with the card 45. A

magnet 50, upon energization, will attract its armature 5|, actuating linkage 52 to cause upward movement of brushes 48 into engagement with the record card. This brush operating structure is fully shown and described in the copending application of Lee and Daly, Serial No. 391,874, filed September 11, 1929, now Patent No. 1,976,618, to which reference may be had for further details of construction.

Upon arm 44 is mounted a brush carrier 53 provided with electrically connected brushes 54 and 55, brush 54 being designed to cooperate with a common conducting strip 55 and the brushes 55 being designed to cooperate with individual con-' ducting blocks 51. The strip 55 and blocks 51 are mounted in a block of insulating material 58 which is suitably secured to the frame of the machine. One block 51 is provided for each card column of the record card and one of the brushes.

55 is in contact with one of the blocks 51 corresponding to the column of the record card under the punches H or in cooperation with the brushes 48. Each block 51 is electrically connected to a plugs 59 of the selected columns and a correthose columns in which it is desired to control the punching of data under control of the master card 45.

A special socket 54 is provided which, when connected to one of the sockets 59 by a suitable connection 55, will cause release of the card carriage for uninterrupted movement thereof toward the left.

The complete operation of the machine will 15 now be traced with particular reference to Fig. 1. In those columns in which it is desired to reproduce data under control of the pattern card 45, plug connections 52 are made between the 20 spending number of sockets 53, and in those columns in which automatic spacing is desired, connections 50 are made between sockets 59 and a corresponding number'of sockets 5|. If it is desired to leave a considerable number of columns at the right end of the record card unpunched, plug connection 55 is made between socket 64 and the socket 59 of the column following the last column in which punching is to be effected.

After cards l9 and 45 have been placed in position in the machine and the rack 35 moved toward the right to bring the first column of the card into registration with the punches, as in Fig. 1, switch 55 is closed to supply current to lines 51 5 and 58. With a plug connection 52 inserted in the first plug socket as shown, a circuit will immediately be completed from line 51, magnet 58, brush 59, contact roller 41, brush 10, to plug sockets 53, thence through connection 52 to the first 40 socket 59, brush 55, brush 54, strip 55, contact 35, wire 1| to other side of line 58. Magnet 50 is thereby energized to elevate the brushes 48 into contact with the pattern card 45, following which v the usual circuit or circuits will be completed 45 through the punch selecting magnets to duplicate the data perforated in column of the pattern card on the same column of the blank card l9. These circuits may be traced from line 51, magnet 58, brush 59, common roller 41, perforations in 5 the pattern card, corresponding brushes 48, cable 12, punch selecting magnets l0, wire 13, to other side of line 58.

As explained above, energization of a magnet ID will advance the corresponding interposer and 55 will cause closure of the contact 23 which will complete the circuit to the punch magnet 24 from line 51, magnet 24, contact 23 to the other side of line 58. This causes operation of the punches in the usual manner and permits the rack 60 35 to escape one column toward the left to present the next column to the punches and will at the same time move the brushes 54 and 55 into cooperation with the second block 51.

The aforedescribed duplicating operation will 65 be repeated for as many columns as there are plug connections 52, contact 35 acting as a circuit breaker between columns.

In columns in which no plug connections are made, manual punching may be effected by the 70 usual manual operation of the keys l3. In'columns in which connections 50 are made forautomatic spacing, a circuit will be completed upon arrival of each such column in punching position which may be traced as follows: From line 51, 75

, 56, contact punch magnet 24, wire 14, plug socket 6|, connection 60, socket 59 and block/51, brushes 55 and 54, common strip 56, contact 36, wire H, back to other side of line 68. This circuit energizes the punch magnet independently of the operation of contacts 23 and permits the operation of the punching bar IS without operating any of the punches II but, throughan extension 15 on the bail 21 the latter is actuated to cause spacing of the record cards. During such spacing operation the operation of pawl "32 will cause opening of contact 36 to break the circuit to the punch magnet which will be again initiated if the next following column i provided with a plug connection 60.

Upon arrival of the brushes 55, 54 at the column in which plug connection 65 has been made, a circuit will be completed from line 61, wire 16, release magnet 40, socket 6'4, connection 65, socket 59, segment 51, brushes 55, 54, common strip 36, wire H, to the other side of line 68.

As explained above, energization of magnet 40 will raise the pawl 32 out of engagement with the teeth 34 of rack 35 and the rack will there upon be urged rapidly toward the left under the influence of the spring barrel 42. This movement is sufilciently rapid to prevent the dropping of pawl -32 into engagement with teeth 34 until the rack 35 has reached the extremity of its movement toward the left. The residual magnetism of magnet 40 will effect a delaying action upon forations bell crank 31,'-thus aifording assurance that the rack will reach the extremity of its movement toward the left before pawl 32 again drops into engagement therewith.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified form of setting arrangement in which each of the segments 51 is connected to the armof a switch 11 which, when set in the position indicated in the first orderv toward the right, connects the segment 51 to a socket 18. When switch I1 is moved to its central position as indicated in the second column from the right segment 51 is connected to a line 19 which corresponds to the common connection of the duplicating sockets 63. When the switch 11 is positioned as indicated by the third column from the right, connection is made to the segment 5! and a. line 80, which correspondsto the common connection 14, of the space sockets 5|. The socket 18 may be connected to the socket 64 by the plug connection 65 for operation of the carriage release mechanism. With thisarrangement of switches it is simply necessary to move 'the switch 11 to its central position in those columns of the card IS in which it is desired to effect perunder control of the pattern card and to move switch 1! to the left in those columns in which it is desired to effect automatic spacing without punching in such columns. In those columns in which it is desired to efiect manual punching, the switch 11 is moved to its farthest clockwiseposition and when it is desired to release the carriage, plug connection 65 is inserted between sockets 64 and 18 in appropriate column in which it is also necessary to position switch 11 as shown.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel featuresof the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the deyice illustrated and in its operation may be made 'by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It

is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe following claims.

4 What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for punching cards to record data successively in difi'erent card fields, punches, 5

duplicating means to control the punching in accordance with a pattern, means for moving said pattern step by step to successive positions, means comprising selectively settable switching devices positionable to efiect duplicating punching operations in certain fields and further means also comprising selectively settable "switching def vices positionable to cause automatic skipping of fields in which no punching is to be effected.

2. A punching machine including a carriage 15 adapted to' carry a card transversely with re- 1 spect to a set of punches for punching in card columns successively, electrically operated spacing mechanism for said carriage and means including selectively adjustable switches and cir- 20 cuits controlled thereby for causing operation of said spacing mechanism to automatically skip selected .positions upon said card in which positions no punching is to be effected.

3.. In a machine for punching cards column by 25 column, spacing mechanism, punching mechanism, switches and circuits to control said mechanisms, said switches being settable in one position to cause successive operation of said punching and spacing mechanisms in preselected card 30 columns, and settable in another position to automatically cause spacing operations only, to efiect skipping in preselected card columns in which no punching is to be efiected.

4. In a punching machine, a column of 35 punches, a carriage adapted to 'move a record card past said column of punches, punch operating mechanism; escapement mechanism for controlling the advance of said carriage step by stepas an incident. to each punch operation, and 40 means controlled by the movement of said carriage for repeatedly and directly actuating said escapement mechanism independently of said punch operating mechanism to cause a succes sion 'of steps of movement of said carriage.

5. In a machine of the class described, a card carriage, punching mechanism, an escapement mechanism adapted to advance said' carriage a predetermined increment for each actuation of said punching mechanism andmeans controlled by the movement of said carriage fordirectly causing a series of operations of said actuating I mechanism independently of ,said punching mechanism to automatically advance the carriage by successive increments.

6. In a card punching machine, a column of punches, a carriage adapted to move a card past said column of punches column by column,'means for advancing said carriage step by step and means controlled by the movement of the carriage for directly causing said moving means to effect a series of step by step, advances of said carriage whereby a plurality of columns of the card will pass the column of punches in successation without being operated upon by the punches.

7. In a punching machine, a carriage adapted to carry a card transversely with respect to a spacing mechanism independently of the operation of said punching means.

8. In a punching machine, a carriage adapted to carry a card transversely with respect to a column of punches for punching in card columns successively, means for advancing said carriage, escapement mechanism for controlling said advancing means to effect step by step movement of said carriagmmeans controlled by the movement of said carriage for causing said advancing means to effect an uninterrupted advance of said carriage a distance greater than a step by step movement and means controlled by said last named means for disabling said escapement mechanism during said interrupted advance.

9. In a card punching machine, a card, carriage punching mechanism, electrically operated escapement mechanism operable as an incident to each operation of said punching mechanism, 3.

circuit closing device carried by the carriage and means controlled thereby for repeatedly and directly operating said escapement mechanism independently of said punching mechanism to effect a series of escapement controlled move- 5 ments of said carriage.

10. In a punching machine, punching means including a row of punches, a carriage for advancing ,a card past said punches, escapement mechanism therefor operable as an incident to 10 the operation of said punching means, a stationary commutator bar including contact blocks positioned in a line parallel to the path of movement of saidcarriage and means carried by said carriage and adapted to cooperate with said con- 15 tact blocks to directly control the operation of said escapement mechanism independently of said punching means.

IRVING B. KNUTSON. 

